Last night, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Truth in Fur Labeling Act, a bill to protect consumers and animals by requiring all garments containing animal fur to be accurately labeled by species and country of origin.

We simply cannot continue approving permits that are rife with false claims such as support from experts who have long since passed away or environmental impact reports on animals that don't even reside in the region.

The recent elections were a setback for national environmental advocates. But for a small city near San Francisco, it demonstrated that poor communities can still control their shorelines and, perhaps, their own destinies.

For some, it was with a sense of relief that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar passed Cape Wind. For others, it was the latest in a drama that has lasted nearly a decade. Either way, this is a story that blows.

Over in Colorado, an anti-abortion organization is really mad at Ken Salazar. However, I'm projecting that Ken Salazar has a 100 percent chance of retaining his seat, because Ken Salazar is the Secretary of the Interior.

Is the benefit of the extra oil we will get from deepwater drilling (half a year's worth of additional crude) worth the environmental risks of another major accident? The Obama administration has obviously decided yes.

While most incoming members of Congress will get sworn in on the traditional timeline, there are a handful who will be sworn in immediately. This could alter the balance of power between the parties for the "lame duck" session.